The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) provides the information below to assist overseas trained nurses and midwives wishing to work in New Zealand.
It will also be of interest to New Zealander's considering nursing as a career.
Our goal is to provide you with relevant facts about healthcare and to assist you in obtaining nursing employment in New Zealand. It is also available as a Printable PDF, last updated in January 2009.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is a professional and industrial organisation representing approximately 42,000 members in all areas of the health service.
NZNO negotiates salary and conditions of employment on behalf of members who are nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants, and other health professionals and health sector workers. These people are working in the public and private sectors.
Through the professional support team, NZNO provides professional support and advice to members and other healthcare workers, education on legal requirements for nurses and healthcare assistants.
Leadership for nurses and midwives is provided by the team through liaison with healthcare providers, other professional and government bodies, and input into national and local draft proposals and strategies related to the health sector.
Clinical practice development and monitoring is provided with support from the professional nurse advisors, through NZNO’s special interest sections and colleges.
On this page:
Membership Services
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Collective Agreements
New Zealand's Health Sector
Gaining Registration in New Zealand
English language requirements
Applicants from Australia
Midwives
Immigration
Nursing/Midwifery Education
Competence assessment programmes
Finding Employment
Useful Websites and Links
Membership Services
Service provided to members includes:
- Professional advice and education from seven Professional Nurse Advisors (PNA’s) in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. They are supported in their advice and education by lawyers, policy analysts, a researcher and a competency review advisor
- Advice and support from industrial organisers related to employment issues
- Negotiation with employers for salary and conditions of work
- Indemnity insurance which includes cover for industrial and employment issues
- Publication of monthly professional journal – Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand
- Publications including Guidelines for Nurses on the Administration of Medicines, Quality in the Workplace, Standards of Nursing Practice, Code of Ethics, Obligations in a Pandemic or Disaster.
- Multi employer employment agreement negotiation
- Advocacy and support on professional matters
- Membership to your choice of two of 23 National College and Sections whose role includes to:
- Provide expert nursing knowledge and advice at Government and Ministry level
- Participate in the development of evidence-based guidelines and standards of practice
- Advance professional development within each nursing speciality
- Special nursing and midwifery interest groups
- An opportunity to be politically active (proactive)
- Specialist library
- Affiliation to other organisations
- Education and training through a range of seminars and educational activities
- Scholarships available for education and research
- Representation on a wide range of committees, organisations, statutory authorities etc.
Find out more about joining NZNO.
NZNO is not an employment agency and can not help you find a nursing job. NZNO has no role in the registration and regulation of nurses in New Zealand. That role is undertaken by the Nursing Council of New Zealand, an entirely seperate organisation.
NZNO Offices
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has a National Office in Wellington as well as eight staffed offices throughout the country.
Contact NZNO
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Most employers require nurses to carry some form of personal professional indemnity insurance.
The professional indemnity insurance carried by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation on behalf of its members gives comprehensive cover concerning any claims of a professional nature. The cost of this is included in the NZNO membership fee – it does not cost extra.
Collective Agreements
Nurses in public hospitals and primary healthcare organisations including Maori and Iwi providers are employed under Multi Employer Collective Agreement (MECA’s) negotiated by NZNO. In Private Hospitals and Aged Care facilities there are a mix of MECA and individual site Collective Agreements or Individual Employment Contracts.
If you wish to be included in a MECA or Collective Agreement you must be a member of NZNO. Membership forms may be obtained through NZNO Offices or by phone 0800 28 38 48 or email membership@nzno.org.nz.
New Zealand's Health Sector
Healthcare in New Zealand is mainly funded through Government sources, but also through private health insurers and part user charges. They are delivered through a variety of agencies and employment may be sought in six general areas (see below).
New Zealand nurses continue to develop their practice as the profession adapts - to deliver on its social contract and its potential. Today, many nurses are working in specialist, expanded and advanced roles.
New Zealand Health Services
1. Secondary Health Care
Secondary Health Care is primarily provided within 21 District Health Boards (DHBs). All are government funded and their activities are monitored by the New Zealand Ministry of Health in terms of achieving financial sustainability, and delivering high quality clinical services to the public. They provide a range of acute/community and maternity services mostly free to the public.
DHBs are charged with:
- Promoting and protecting the health of New Zealanders.
- Improving health outcomes.
- Reducing health disparities.
2. Aged Care
Aged Care is mostly provided by the private sector but is partially funded for their services through local DHB contracts.
3. Private Hospitals
Private hospitals provide a range of usually elective procedures which will be paid for either by the user of the service, or by their insurer if they have private health insurance or by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) which provides 24-hour no-fault personal injury insurance cover.
4. Primary Health Organisations (PHOs)
PHOs are collectives of health services which work together to improve the health of people in a community. Every person in New Zealand should be enrolled through their GP with a PHO. Health providers who belong to PHOs include GPs, Māori providers, voluntary agencies, non-government organisations and other community health providers. Through the information that the PHO gathers they can get a clear picture of the health problems in their area and put in place programmes to improve and promote health. Reaching the highest need people enrolled is a PHO priority.
PHOs get a set amount of funding from the government to subsidise a range of health services. The funding is based on the numbers and characteristics (eg age, sex, ethnicity) of people enrolled with them.
The funding pays for:
- Providing care and treatment when people are ill.
- Keeping groups of people healthy by putting in place health promotion programmes which deal with issues such as healthy eating and healthy action.
- Working with groups in their communities who have poor health, such as those with diabetes or heart disease.
- Making extra efforts to reach people who are missing out on primary health care.
5. Midwifery
Many midwives are employed by public hospitals. Qualified midwives may also practice as independent practitioners and many have formed into midwifery provider groups. Midwives have a separate regulating body from nurses - the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.
Maternity services in New Zealand are an integrated system of primary, secondary and tertiary maternity care. All maternity care is free for New Zealand citizens, unless a woman chooses a private obstetrician who may charge on top of the set fee the obstetrician receives from the government.
Primary maternity care is provided by Lead Maternity Carers (LMCs) who work under Section 88 Maternity Notice of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. Lead Maternity Carers are selected by women to provide their lead maternity care and can be midwives, general practitioners with a diploma in obstetrics or obstetricians. Lead Maternity Carers take responsibility for the care provided to women throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period including the management of labour and birth.
Women in New Zealand can give birth at home, in primary maternity facilities or birthing centres, or in secondary maternity hospitals. Some women are advised to give birth in tertiary facilities.
6. Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners respond to complex situations in a diversity of contexts, demonstrating leadership as consultants, educators, administrators and researchers. They adopt creative and innovative approaches to client care and incorporate critical thinking into nursing practice issues and decisions to optimise client outcomes. Nurse practitioners are also leaders in their scope, participating in the development of evidence-based practice, integrating theoretical and practice based knowledge to influence the development of nursing, health practice and policy at local and national levels. They actively participate in professional and legislative activities to promote the advancement of nursing and health-related social policies.
Nurse Practitioners are in their infancy in New Zealand however they have much to offer health consumers, service providers and health professionals. This is a new role and will take time to embed into health services. There are challenges to overcome but they can be addressed positively to benefit all. This new role builds on current nursing developments and is complementary to other nursing and health professional roles. It is a role designed to improve access to health services and health outcomes and to provide a new career pathway for nurses.
Gaining Registration in New Zealand
NZNO strongly advises that all nurses and midwives seek registration prior to coming to New Zealand.
Nurses
All nurses who are seeking employment in this country must be registered by the Nursing Council of New Zealand. Once Registration/Enrolment is approved the nurse may apply for a practising certificate, which must be renewed annually.
All nurses must have a New Zealand Nursing Council practising certificate before they can commence employment as a nurse in New Zealand. Midwives must apply to the Midwifery Council. If the person holds nursing and midwifery qualifications, registration needs to be gained from both councils separately as they are regulated as separate professions in NZ.
Application for registration as a nurse in New Zealand should be sent to:
Nursing Council of New Zealand
PO Box 9644
Wellington
New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 385 9589
Fax: +64 4 801 8502
Email oseas@nursingcouncil.org.nz
Website: www.nursingcouncil.org.nz
Midwives
The Midwifery Council of New Zealand is the regulatory authority for midwives. Information about midwifery registration can be accessed through their website www.midwiferycouncil.org.nz.
Please note: All overseas applicants must supply evidence of nursing practice hours for the past three years while registered as a nurse. This must be in written format and verified by their employers. This does not apply to new graduates who have trained within the last year. All other applicants will be assessed on an individual basis.
General information
Nurses who are registered with an overseas regulatory authority can apply to the Nursing Council of New Zealand ('the Council') for registration.
Applications are assessed on an individual basis and in accordance with the requirements of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. The Council only operates a system of reciprocal registration with Australia.
Applicants for registration are required to provide evidence that:
- they have an equivalent international nursing qualification.
- are competent to practise within their scope of practice.
- are fit for registration, which includes the ability to communicate effectively in English for the purpose of practising nursing.
The time it takes for an application to be completed varies considerably. The Nursing Council of New Zealand strongly recommends that you do not make plans to move to New Zealand until you have completed the registration process (or have been advised to complete a competence assessment programme if necessary).
Please also note that immigration does not come under the jurisdiction of the Nursing Council of New Zealand. The process of applying for registration and the documentation requirements around that process is in the Nursing Council document Information to Register as a Nurse in New Zealand. Please note that this document is free and downloadable from www.nursingcouncil.org.nz. It is strongly suggested that you read this document before progressing with travel to New Zealand.
English language requirements
All overseas applicants are required to successfully complete an English language assessment for New Zealand registration with the exception of applicants from Australia, who are exempt from being required to successfully complete an English language assessment under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act (TTMRA) 1997.
Please note: Applicants for nursing and/or midwifery registration are required to show evidence of successful passes in the English language test in four bands (reading, writing, speaking and listening) before they apply for registration to the New Zealand Nursing/ Midwifery Council.
The accepted English language assessments for NZ registration are International English Language Test (IELT’s) or Overseas English Test. Applicants must gain a score of at least 7.0 in each band of an IELTS test, or a B pass in all categories of the Occupational English Test (OET). However, as from 1 August 2008, the achievement of at least 7.0 in each band of an IELTS may be gained over more than one sitting, but must be completed within twelve calendar months of the first sitting of the test and be less than two years old.
The cost of sitting IELT’s is approximately $300 which you have to pay each time you sit until you achieve a pass in all four bands at level 7.0. IELT is not health specific but rather a test focused on general knowledge whereas the OET is health specific and costs approximately $1000 to sit the first time. You can then resit this test until you achieve a pass in all four bands at level 7.0 without paying further fees.
Team Leader Overseas Registrations
Nursing Council of New Zealand
PO Box 9644
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 385 9589
Fax: +64 4 801 8502
Email: oseas@nursingcouncil.org.nz
Applicants from Australia
Applicants with nursing registration in Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory or Western Australia can apply to the Nursing Council of New Zealand for registration under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997.
Please note: All overseas applicants must supply evidence of nursing practice hours for the past three years while registered as a nurse. This must be in written format and verified by their employers. This does not apply to new graduates who have trained within the last year. All other applicants will be assessed on an individual basis.
For a copy of the application form:
- You can access the application form online at www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/registration. You will need to have installed Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer to be able to do this.
or
- If you require an application pack to be posted to you, please contact the Council with your full name and postal address by telephone +64 4 385 9589 or by email oseas@nursingcouncil.org.nz
Application fee
The total application fee is NZ $485.00. This payment covers the following:
| Processing fee (non-refundable) |
$420.00 |
| Guidelines for Cultural Safety, the Treaty of Waitangi and Maori Health |
$15.00 |
| Registration fee |
$50.00 |
| Total |
$485.00 |
Note:
The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act was passed into legislation in September 2003. From March 2005 nurses have been expected to have a professional portfolio that demonstrates competence in order to obtain an Annual Practising Certificate. The Practising Certificate is an additional $96.
NZNO has resources available to assist you with this task:
http://www.nzno.org.nz/Site/Resources/Portfolios.aspx
Midwives
The Midwifery Council of New Zealand was established through the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCAA) 2003.
The Midwifery Council of New Zealand is responsible for the protection of the health and safety of women and babies during the childbirth process by providing mechanisms to ensure that midwives are competent and fit to practise midwifery. The HPCAA provides the regulatory framework. The Midwifery Council took over the responsibility for the regulation of midwives from the Nursing Council of New Zealand on the 18th September 2004.
Before you can work as a midwife in New Zealand you need to be registered and hold a practising certificate. Overseas trained midwives do not have an automatic right of registration in New Zealand. All applications are considered by the Midwifery Council on an individual basis against the competencies required for registration and practise in New Zealand.
Midwives who qualified overseas and who wish to work in New Zealand have to satisfy the Midwifery Council that:
- they are registered as a midwife in the country in which they completed their training.
- their midwifery qualification, post-registration practise and post-registration further training and education, considered as a whole, is equivalent in content and competencies to the New Zealand qualifications for registration.
- they can communicate in and comprehend English to the Midwifery Council's required standard.
- they are fit for registration as defined by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, which includes providing a current Certificate of Good Standing issued by their overseas registration authority.
Applications can normally be processed in a timely manner and most are straight forward. However a number of documents must come from third parties and sometimes lengthy delays do occur in obtaining all of the information needed for an application. Applications cannot be determined until complete.
Each year a number of applications are declined for various reasons. Applicants may wish to explore work opportunities in New Zealand while their application is in progress. However the Midwifery Council strongly advises that you do not enter into any employment arrangement or make any immigration arrangements based on a presumption that your application will be successful or the timing of the assessment of your application. If you ignore this advice it will not contribute to your application and will not be accepted as grounds for urgent processing.
| Processing fee (non-refundable) |
$1000.00 |
| Practicing Certificate fee (dependant on time of year applying) |
$119.00 - $478.00 |
| Total approximately |
$1478.00 |
Midwifery Council
PO Box 24448
Manners Street
Wellington
New Zealand
Phone: + 64 4 499 5040
Fax: + 64 4 499 5045
Email: info@midwiferycouncil.org.nz
Midwives Registered in Qualifying Australian TTMRA States
New Zealand Parliament enacted the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act In August 1997. This Act came into force by Order-in-Council on 1 May 1998. It provides for the mutual recognition of regulatory standards adopted in Australia and New Zealand regarding goods and occupations.
The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement allows persons registered in Australia and New Zealand who practise substantially the same registered occupations, to move freely between both countries. This process applies to New Zealand and each of the Australian States. If you are registered to practise midwifery in Australia you are entitled to seek registration, and to practise, as a midwife in New Zealand. This right is exercised by giving written notice in the form of a Notice of Application, a Statutory Declaration and paying the application fee.
Immigration
Frequently, prior to gaining registration in New Zealand, overseas nurses are employed as caregivers or healthcare assistants in aged care facilities receiving the minimum wage. It may take several attempts to achieve a pass in IELT or OET whilst they continue to be paid at minimum wage rates. Also in these situations, a healthcare assistant or registered nurse may be bonded to work for the employer for two years. To get release from this arrangement may cost up to $10,000. Registered nurses who are employed under this bonding scheme are often paid considerably less that their registered nurse colleagues in the same facility.
Full details about living and settling in New Zealand can be found at the New Zealand Immigration Services (NZIS) website:
http://www.immigration.govt.nz.
For information about entering New Zealand as a skilled migrant please visit:
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workandlivepermanently/caniworkinnz/skilledmigrantcategory/
Nursing/Midwifery Education
Registered nurses/midwives are educated in the tertiary sector. On completion of a three year programme, registered nurses have a degree in nursing and registered midwives have a degree in midwifery (four academic years completed in a three calendar year period).
There are a significant number of healthcare assistants employed in private and public healthcare services in New Zealand who complete an aged care education program at a very basic level. These programs are not suitable for registered nurses.
Presently there are 17 universities/polytechnics offering nursing programmes. Many offer postgraduate papers for nurses including clinically focused master/doctoral programs. Five offer approved clinical programmes for nurse practitioner registration.
There are five accredited tertiary education providers currently offering approved pre-registration midwifery education degree programmes.
Competence Assessment Programmes
Overseas registered nurses/nurse assistants, registered nurses and enrolled nurses returning to practice after a period of absence are required to demonstrate their ability to meet the Competencies for the Registered Nurse scope of practice, and the competencies for the Nurse Assistant/Enrolled Nurse scopes of practice, respectively.
For overseas registered/nurse assistants, successful completion of a competency programme enables registration in New Zealand and for an Annual Practising Certificate to be issued. New Zealand nurses returning to practice are required under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 to obtain a Practising Certificate.
Competency Assessment Programmes are offered by an accredited service provider or jointly by an accredited service provider and school of nursing.
NZNO's monthly journal Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand publishes regular education updates and information on courses.
Finding Employment
- Nursing positions are typically advertised in the daily newspapers and on the internet - see Useful Websites and Links below.
- Nurses may also contact hospitals directly to enquire about positions available.
- Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, NZNO's monthly journal advertises some positions.
NZNO cannot provide further information or assistance on seeking employment.
Useful Websites and Links
Stuff NZ
Newspaper with a link through to Job Stuff which includes situations vacant listings.
www.stuff.co.nz
Health Employment Gazette
www.healthpages.co.nz
Kiwi Careers
Although aimed at school leavers it outlines the type of nursing positions available in NZ. Click on the ‘community and health’ option on the left hand column. Under specific information for each type of nursing you will usually find details on salary ranges.
www.careers.co.nz/lists/jobs/jindfrm.htm
Everybody
A consumer health information resource, owned and published by CMPMedica (NZ) Ltd.
www.everybody.co.nz
Ministry of Health Links
List of Public Hospitals
Public hospitals are run and owned by District Health Boards:
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/contact-us-public-hospitals
Working as a nurse in New Zealand
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/nursing-working
District Health Board (DHB) Contact Addresses
Visit the Ministry of Health DHB contacts page and scroll down to District Health Boards
Ministry of Health and District Health Board Vacancies
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/wpg_index/-Job+Vacancies+and+Appointments
Internet contact details for all NZ District Health Boards
If you have a particular location in New Zealand in mind, select the appropriate DHB. On the home page there is usually a link for ‘employment’ or ‘situations vacant’. Any current nursing positions will be listed here.
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/wpgIndex/Links-District+Health+Boards+Contents
Sites for those seeking postitions in the private sector
Health Care Providers NZ
www.healthcareproviders.org.nz
ElderNet
This site includes a database directory of New Zealand rest homes, residential care, retirement villages, home help, community groups, public hospitals.
www.eldernet.co.nz
We wish you well as you continue your nursing career in New Zealand and hope NZNO may be of service to you in the future.